During today’s press conference ahead of the match vs Getafe, Ronald Koeman sent a clear message to one of his biggest stars.
Ronald Koeman and Antoine Griezmann didn’t exactly begin their relationship at FC Barcelona in the best possible manner. The Dutch coach gave him the trust he needed to start in games but he didn’t place him in his proper position.
Although Koeman keeps insisting he never plays a footballer out of his position, we can all see Griezmann struggle. It’s also quite evident that the French player gives different results as a playmaker than a striker, he even scores more goals.
That’s the reason he recently sent Koeman a dig after the Nations League match that France played against Croatia. Antoine played a more loose position on the attack and he scored a fantastic goal. But Koeman wasn’t going to remain quiet after Griezmann’s words, he needed to respond today.
Koeman confirms he is the one who makes the calls.
Ahead of Barcelona’s match against Getafe, Koeman said on Sport: “We all have a right to speak and we know these things can happen. I spoke with Antoine yesterday but not because of what he said. We talked about his position and his results. I told him that I only have the club’s best interest at heart and I think he performs better as a right-winger. He has more freedom there. I know he can play as a 10 or a 9, but I make the calls for the team’s best interest.
“He can play three different positions. Each player needs to get the best level of performance. He is doing the best he can, which is work hard, remain disciplined, and have fortune with his offensive qualities. There were four or five plays in which he could’ve gotten a better outcome. We can argue a lot more about his positions. When I was the Netherlands’ manager, he played as a right-winger. We don’t have to keep arguing about this subject. The manager makes the calls an he needs to give his best level of performance. If he does, there’s nothing wrong.
“I don’t want to keep talking about a specific player. I don’t have a problem with Antoine. My job is to get the best out of every player. I can only use eleven and one of them can play as a number 9, another as a number 7, another two as defensive midfielders. I never play anybody outside of his position. Griezmann can play from the wing and cut to the inside, he’s a leftie and he can do it. We can’t play with ten players in the playmaker position.”
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